Solid Pitching and Timely Hitting Power Athenas Past Oxy in Twin Bill Sweep

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The Athenas continued their winning ways, taking the first game of Saturday's doubleheader with Occidental College by a score of 6-1. Scoreless through the first three innings, the CMS offense busted open in the fourth and fifth to put six on the board. Anna Gurr (CMC) threw the ball well, shutting out the Tigers through her six innings in the circle. Occidental managed to scratch a run across in the bottom of the seventh off reliever Megan Perron (CMC), but the CMS offense had already done its damage to secure the win.

Chloe Amarilla (CMC) continued what had Gurr started, holding the Tigers to one run on three hits in Game Two. She also did her part at the plate, leading the Athenas with three hits in the second half of the twin bill. Six Athenas recorded multiple hits in the game, and Jessica Fox (CMC) knocked in a team-leading three runs.

Game One: CMS defeats Occidental 6-1

Gurr recorded three strikeouts through the first three innings, keeping the Tigers' batters at bay and giving her team the chance to score first.

Briana Halle (CMC) walked to lead-off the top of the fourth and was relieved on the bases by Megan Mendez (CMC). A groundout advanced Mendez to third before Maddie Valdez (CMC), who had three RBI doubles the day before, doubled to bring in the first run of the game.

The offense exploded in the top of the fifth when CMS put up a five-spot to extend their lead to 6-0. Reeve Grobecker (CMC) walked then stole second to start the inning before taking third on a sacrifice bunt by Molly Spaniac (CMC). After Amarilla reached on a fielder's choice and Carly Roleder (CMC) drew a walk to load the bases, Briana Halle (CMC) singled to center to plate two. Roleder came around to score on a wild pitch and Halle came home on an RBI double off the bat of Kawai Scanlan (SC). She was then knocked with an infield base hit by Fox to push the lead to 6-0 after five.

Perron relieved Gurr on the mound to close out the game in the bottom of the seventh and got the job done. The freshman allowed one run in her inning before forcing two groundouts to end the game.

Scanlan and Valdez each notched doubles in the Game One win and Halle led the team with two RBI. Gurr struck out four in six innings to earn her 13th win of the season.

Game Two: CMS defeats Occidental 7-1

Amarilla got the ball in Game Two and did her part from both the circle and the batter's box. In a game where she allowed three hits, she also recorded three hits of her own to lead the offense and help herself out on the mound. The Athenas scored early, jumping on the board in the top of the first, then put up multiple runs in the third and sixth.

Spaniac reached on a fielder's choice in the top of the first and came around to score on a single to left by Amarilla to give CMS a 1-0 lead. Oxy answered with a run in the home half with a passed ball but Amarilla settled in after and held them scoreless for the rest of the contest.

The Athenas erupted for four runs on four hits in the top of the third, beginning with an infield single by Amarilla. Roleder sacrificed her over and Halle knocked her in with a single to center. Scanlan and and Valdez both reached on a walk and error, respectively, to load the bases. Fox continued to produce at the plate, knocking in two with an RBI single to left. A single from Grobecker plated Valdez to push the Athenas' advantage to 5-1.

Back-to-back RBI doubles from Valdez and Fox knocked in two runs in the top of the sixth and CMS headed to the final inning leading 7-1.

CMS was able to escape a one out, bases loaded jam in the bottom of the seventh unscathed. Amarilla sat a batter down on strikes for the second out before Kylie Hetzel (HMC) made a diving play in foul territory at third to end the game and send CMS home victorious.

As mentioned, Amarilla worked from both sides of the ball, leading the team with three hits while tossing a gem in the circle for her ninth win. Fox knocked in three run and Valdez ripped her fifth RBI double in four games.

The sweep moves CMS to 24-10 overall and 13-9 in conference play. Next Saturday, Apr. 21, the Athenas host La Verne in a doubleheader starting at noon.